Goodbye Beads

This weekend I decided to purge my bead stash. From ages 8-16 beading was my craft of choice, and I amassed a huge quantity of beads. I swear I still have beads that I picked out when I was 10 years old. Needless to say, my taste has changed. Somehow a yin yang beaded necklace does not seem as cool as it did in 1995. I got out my beading supplies to fix a friend's bracelet (which I discovered I need more supplies to do) and ended up going through the beads. 99% are going to be donated, but I did keep a few.

I also decided that while I had everything out, I might as well makes a hodgepodge collection of stitch markers. Some, like the butterfly one above are an homage to my 4th grade beading tastes. Others are just cool, funky beads I didn't want to get rid of.



I cast on The Boy Hat as a Christmas present for my sister's BF. I started it on US 8 needles, which proved to be way to huge, ripped back about 2 inches, and started again on size US 7 needles. The yarn is Bernat Cashmere Natural Blends, a synthetic and cashmere blend that makes for a nice soft machine washable hat.

A shot of the Sharks warming up on Saturday:

They lost to Edmonton, but the Sharks are still #1 in the NHL!

Photo Journal

For my birthday, my blogging buddy Kristina got me several wonderful knitting related presents, all of which I love. The most beeeeautiful ones are these:

Stitch markers, which she made, after sneakily purchasing the beads in my presence! At the time, I thought it a bit out of character for her to buy pink beads, but you never know. They are absoultely beautiful and I love them enormously. I have only been able to put one to use thus far, on my WIP the Swallowtail Shawl.

The stitch markers are photographed on one of my new Kosta Boda plates. I have been obsessed with Kosta Boda and Swedish glassware in general since I went to Sweden two years ago. I love all things Scandinavian when it comes to design, textiles, architecture, and aesthetic. The glass making technique used today by Kosta Boda has been around for hundreds of years; the Kosta Boda company was founded in 1742.

No knitting pictures to post, hopefully next week. My WIP line up is:

Brooklyn Tweed's Hemlock Ring Blanket: This is a KAL with my blogmate Kristina. We are doing 5 rows per week, and at the moment, are only 4 weeks in.

The Swallowtail Shawl, in Knit Picks Gloss Lace Yarn in sterling. We shall see how much I like the yarn when its blocked. Its very easy to knit with, but I thought it would have a bit more luster.

Skrilla Knits' Brûlée Scarf, in Tiur by Dale of Norway. This knit is for a wee little three year old. I kept the original 28 stitch width, but am using a small yarn to shrink it down to kid size. Hopefully this will have a matching hat and mittens by my September deadline.

In most excellent news, Kristina and I will be reuniting this weekend as two of our best friends get married (to each other) this Saturday. I am so excited, but stressing big time about my toast! I am planning on keeping it short and sweet, as no story seems to be funny/sweet/perfect/appropriate enough to tell. I am told I will do fine, but given the sobfest I put on at the engagement party, we shall see.

We will be bringing socks on the needles to take a sock photo a la Harlot, while we are all gussied up.

Until later!

Rose